Fuel injection apparatus



June 28, 1949. J. R. HALE 2,474,419

FUEL INJECTION APPARATUS Fil ed Feb. 2, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' INVENTOR. Jjf? E flan- 6.

W/KM

June 28, 1949. J. R. HALE FUEL INJECTION APPARAiI'US 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 2, 1945 Q a Md m n l. .r 7 Q N a a J i 1 P M 5 E y k 2 in ya x Patented June 28, 1949 UNITED PAT ENT OFFICE FUEL INJECTION APPARATUS Jesse B. llalepBerkley, Mich.

Application February 2, 1945, Serial No. 575,893

This invention relates to fuel injection apparatus and has for its principal object the provision of a simple and economically constructed fuel injector or injection pump which will furnish positive yet :fiexible control of fuel-delivery, and which is equally advantageous when used as a unit or as one of a cluster.

While my improved pump is particularly applicable to the Diesel engine, itis also useful for injection of lighter fuels. It is common knowledge that the exceptional ruggedness and weight of the Diesel engine is inecessarybeca-use of the excessively high peak cylinder pressures .found therein during operation. These high peak pressures are caused-by improperly controlled combustion in the cylinders with resultant uncontrolled rapid pressure rise.

By providing an improved injection pump -.by means of which the combustion may be accurately controlled, I am ableto secure a substantial reduction in the cylinder peak pressure while actually increasingthe B. :M. E.. P.

In the compression ignition cycle, the injection of the fuel has arefrigeratingefiect .in thecylinder due to the large particles of fuel drawing heat from the surrounding air. This causes an ignition lag and resultsi-n ani-nstantaneous pressure .rise at the time .of ignition. During :this period there are two reactions taking place, physical and chemical, bothrequired-before;combustion can ensue, and both-having set rates,

M improved injector amaterially reduces the refrigerating effect by "first, reducing the'volume of injected fuel atnthe startofz-injection and secondly, byreducing the size .of the-droplets orparticles at the start .of injection. Assuming that the fuel particles are spherical (which is substantially their shape and knowing that .the surface area of a sphere variesas the square of the volume, it is clear that the smallerthe particles, the greater thefuel ,particle area exposed .tolcylinder heat, and more-rapid combustion results.

With relatively small fuel particles at zthestart of injection and a gradual increase in particle size .as the :volume of injected .,-fuel increases, a smooth and even combustion takes place because the smaller particles substantiallyrcompletetheir physical and chemical reaction necessary for combustion by the time the largendropletsenter the combustion ,zone, thus additiona1heat released for burning the increased volume of ,fuel. In other words, instead ofan-instantaneouscombustion takin Place, an instant after a certain amount of .fuel has been injected, progressive burning takes place, combustion ,heat .from the r'Claims. (Cl. 103-'41) initial small particles is used and substantially all of the ignition lag is eliminated besides materially reducing'the sudden'pressure rise.

The progressive increase in fuel volume and particle size made possible with my injector has another important eiiect, i. e., that of increasing spray turbulence. This increase in turbulence is caused by the fact that th initially injected minute fuel particles have relatively small mass and do not penetrate far. Thus a large spray cone is formed and initial burning takes place close to the injector. As the fuel particles increase in size, a greater penetration is achieved with a reduction in spray cone, but as particle size increases the unheated fuel drives through the smaller and partially burned particles andforces a thorough mixing of the burned and unburned droplets. Bythis action, an induced turbulence is created from the injected volume and proper dispersal of fuel throughout the available air is aided.

Other objects and advantages of my improved pump will be apparent from the following description.

In the description:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through theinjector, :the parts thereof being shown-in one position of operation;

Fig. 2, 3 and 4 are views similar to Fig. '1,-but showing the parts in other positions of operation;

'Fig. -5 is a longitudinal sectional View of-a modified form of injector ump;

;Fig. ;6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with the parts in, a different position;

Fig. 7-.is a sectional view of anothermodification, and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of still another modification.

Referring now to Figs. lto 4 inclusive, it-may be seen that my improved injector comprisesia two-part :housing lil that is separable :for purposes ofcassembly. An actuator'll .is disposedin the housing for reciprocation axiall zthereof and is guided in thehouslng lilzby meansof atappet L2 andv a plunger -l3,:.both of these membersalso being adapted 'for an axialreciprocation in vm housing.

The housing I0 has anoutlet M which leads to the ignition chamberlnotshown). Communication between the. outlet l4 ,andithe interior. of ;,the housingiis by means of a valveopening t5 which is opened and closedbyaineedle It formingpart ofiaaneedle valve. The needleisoi tapered form drawings which accompany the 3 and is adapted to tightly fit the opening I5. A coiled compression spring I'I bears against an annular shoulder I8 formed on the needle and against the lower end of the plunger I3 and acts to control the relative movement of these members as will be later fully explained.

The needle I is also provided with an internal bore I9 in which is seated a coiled compression spring 23 which bears on the flat lower end of a hemispherical member 2 I. The latter has a rounded upper end which is adapted to seat in the lower end of the actuator II which has been slightly hollowed out as illustrated.

The actuator II has an axial bore 22 which is adapted to communicate respectively with a chamber 23 below the plunger I3, an inlet or charging port 24 formed in the plunger by means of passage 25, and a chamber 25 above the plunger by means of a passage 21. The charging port 24 communicates with a fuel inlet pipe 23, a spring loaded ball check valve 29 being interposed therein.

The tappet I2 bears directly on the upper end of the plunger I3 and has an internally formed annular chamber 38 disposed in surrounding relation with the passage 27 and communicating with the chamber 25 by means of ports 3I. A coil spring 32 acts between the upper end of the housing and the underside of a shoulder 33 integrally formed on the tappet. The shoulder has a lateral extension 34 which contacts a cam 35 mounted at 36 for rotation by the engine. The cam 35 is preferably of the rapid cut-off type and functions in conjunction with the springs I1 and 32, to control the plunger and tappet position.

The actuator I I is controlled by an eccentric 31, suitably mounted at 38 for rotation by the engine. The relative positions of the cam 35, the eccentric 31 and the various other parts of the injecor are shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive under different cyclic conditions and these figures will be now referred to for an explanation of the operation of the device.

In Fig. 1, the charging chamber 26 is being charged with fuel under nominal pressure through pipe 28, port 24, passages 25, 22 and 21 and port 3|. At this time injection chamber 23 is sealed oil from communication with passage 22 by member 2|, and needle I5 is seated in valve opening I5 thereby sealing off opening I4. Plunger I3 is traveling downwardly to compress the fuel in chamber 23 which has just been filled.

In Fig. 2 the cam 35 and eccentric 31 have rotated 90 which has caused tappet I2 and plunger I3 to move to the left and valve actuator II to move toward the right or upper end of the assembly. This permits the pressure in chamber 23 (resulting from the downward travel of the plunger) to act on the lower surface of shoulder I8 of needle It and lift the latter off its seat at the rate determined by actuator I I, thereby opening chamber 23 to outlet I4. Chamber 23 is still closed off from passage 22 because member 2| is still seated against the lower end of the actuator II (which is moving upwardly), the pressure in chamber 23 being sufficient to move the needle against the pressure of spring I! at this time. Chamber 25 is still open to fuel inlet pipe 28 although cam 35 has started to move plunger I3 downwardly or to the left.

Fig. 3 shows the parts after an additional 90 rotation of the cam 35 and eccentric 31. The cam 35 has moved the tappet I2 and plunger I3 toward the left to cutoff communication between port 24 and pipe 28. At the same time passage 4 25 has been blanked 01f. Chambers 23 and 26 are opened to one another through axial passage 22 which action causes an instantaneous drop in pressure in chamber 23. This, in turn, permits spring I! to close the needle valve and ends the injection part of the cycle.

Fig. 4 shows the parts after the last of movement of cam 35 and eccentric 31. It should be noted that immediately cam 35 has rotated past its Fig. 3 position, tappet I2 and lunger I3 move rapidly upwardly or to the right as is permitted by the shape of the cam, the springs I1 and 32 acting in the same direction. This rapid movement of the plunger displaces the fuel in chamber 26 and forces it under pressure through passage 22 into chamber 23 where it is ready to be injected through pipe I4.

It should be noted that the speed of inward travel of plunger I3 varies directly with engine speed, the cam 35 being directly driven by the engine, and outward travel is constant due to spring return. The needle IE is returned to its seat by combined action of the plunger I3 and spring II, the speed of return of the needle being governed principally by the plunger.

It may thus be seen that while the injection time interval shortens as engine R. P. M. increases, it remains substantially constant with respect to the angle of crankshaft travel. In other words, the same amount of fuel is injected for the same crankshaft rotation in degrees regardless of engine speed, and any part of the charging stroke is constant with time thus allowing a variable volumetric output as required by pumping off of the engine. This is a very important feature of my invention and constitutes one of the main points of superiority of my pump.

An important feature of the invention resides in the fact that upper chamber 58 is never completely filled during the charginge period, nor is lower chamber 59 ever completely filled.

Throttling of the engine is accomplished by advancing or retarding the actuator II with respect to the plunger l3. This changes the phase relation between the ports 24 and 25, the longer the interval of registration of these ports, the faster the engine R. P. M. and vice-versa.

In Figs. 1 to 4, the needle I6 has an internal blind bore I9 in which is seated the coiled compression spring 20 and the hemispherical valve member 2I. The lower end of the actuator I I is ground to fit the rounded surface of the member 2I so that a seal is provided when the member and actuator are in engagement.

The size and fit of the ports are preferably such that the spring 20 is depressed slightly when the actuator is in its extreme downward position thus good seal will always be maintained regardless of normal wear of the parts.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate an injection pump similar to that just described, but of the unit type, that is to say the injector supplies fuel to a single cylinder. In Fig. 5 the housing 49 is provided at one end with a spray nozzle 4| having the usual apertures .2 for delivering fuel in minute drops. The plunger 43 is acted upon by a spring 44 which also bears on a shoulder 45 of the needle 46. The latter is provided with a spring urged sealing member 41 for sealing oil the passage 48 of actuator 19 which is controlled by the eccentric 50.

The tappet 5| is urged away from the housing by coil spring 52 and is reciprocated against spring pressure by cam 53. The fuel delivery pipe 54 is preferably provided with a throttle amen-re valve 55 of anysuitable type for controlling fuel delivery; A ball check valve 5 6 is disposed in the fuel inlet and a port 5-1 of the restricted orifice type opens into chamber '58 which chamber is.

adapted to communicate with chamber 59 through tappet port 60 and port (it and passages wofthe actuator.

operator the member 41 seals the: end of.

sealed cit from spray holes 4?. and from the chamber 58-, chamber 58: being filled through port. 5?!

Fig. 6. shows. the parts after the fuel. in chamber 59 has been injected and the needle 4h returned.

to its seatv by the combined action of the plunger 43: and; spring. 44. The plunger 43 has just. completed its rapid upward travel and fuel has been transferred. from chamber 58 to chamber 59 as is permitted by the unsealing of passage (52.

The operation of the injector of Figs. 5: and 6 is. similar to that of Figs. 1 to 4 and it has: the sameadvantages.

Fig. 7 illustrates a. form of the invention wherein the injector nozzle 10. is located atv a point remote from the pump. In' Fig. '7, member H and needle 12, are mechanically inter-connected by means of a; cable 13. The latter is preferablyflexible to accommodate bends in the housing conduit 14' and is guided in the conduit by slotted guidesv 14-. which are freely slidable therein. The needle ll has the same function as the needles [.6 and 46 except that it does not close ofi the lower housing chamber l6, passage 9'! being provided such that the chamber 16 is open. to conduit 14 at all times. The needle 12 operates in a.- chamber 11 which forms part of the nozzle which has spray apertures 18-.

A spring 10 tends to keep. the needle 12 in closed position. The chambers 76 and 11 and the conduit 14 together constitute the lower injection: chamber of the device. The cycle of operation is the same as that described for the other forms of the device, the member H and needle 12 working in unison because of the connecting means 13'.

Fig. 8 illustrates a form of the device which differs from those previously described in that fuel is delivered to the injector nozzle 80 under constant pressure through a conduit 81, as in common rail systems, a throttle valve 82 of any suitable type being provided for regulation of the fuel. flow. The fuel is delivered under considerable pressure, in the order of 2000 p. s. i., this pressure being obtained by means of an auxiliary pump (not shown).

The actuator 83. has a cross-head 84 which is engaged with an eccentric 85.. The needle 81 is enclosed in a housing 80 which has a nozzle 89 formed on one end. A spring 90 acts between the needle and housing and tends to keep the needle in closed position. The actuator 83 has an internal passage 9| which is adapted to be opened and closed to the chamber 92 as the actuator follows the eccentric 85 The passage 9! is connected with the fuel supply by a line 93 which acts as a relief line.

In the operation of this form of the device, the pressure in injection chamber 92 is low when the passage 9! is open. When the eccentric 85 thrusts the actuator 83 downward into engagement with the hemi-spherical valve member carried by the needle 81, the pressure in chamber 6c. 9 2 rises" very rapidly to full-fuel-linepressure. e.- 2000 p. s. i. or thereabouts. Continued rotation of said eccentric will lift' actuator 83 and permit the high chamber pressure to lift the needle 81- whereu-pon fuel will be. ejected through nozzle. holes 94-.

Another important feature of my improved device is the valve means which functions to seal. the-power end of the passage through the actuator' which connects the two chambers. This valve iscommon to all of themod ifications shown.

Having thus described a few' of the many possible forms my invention may assume, I wish it understood thatby so doing I do not intend to limit the scope thereof except as defined in the claims. appended below I claim:

1'. In a fuel injector having a housing provided with a. charging port and an ejection port; a plunger in the housing dividing the interior thereof into a pair of chambers communicating respectively with said ports; a passage. interconnecting. saidi chambers; a valve for controlling said passage and ejection port; and a spring op-- erably connecting said plunger and valve; saidspring and valve being so arranged that opening of said passage and closing of said valve issi multaneously effected.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the spring is free in said housing.

3. In a fuel injector havinga housing pro vided. with a charging port and an ejection port; a plunger in the housing dividing the interior thereof into a pair of chambers communicating respectively with said ports; a needle valve for controlling the ejecting port; an actuator for said. valve; and a spring disposedbetween said plunger and valve, said plunger having a greater stroke than said actuator.

4-. In a fuel injector having a housing provided with fuel inlet and outlet openings; a plunger in the housing dividing the interior thereof intotwd chambers. each communicating with one or said:

openings; a needle valve in one of the chambers:

for controlling said outlet openings; a. passage interconnecting said chambers; valve means: for" opening and closing said passage; aspring operably disposed between said plunger and: needle valve; means for reciprocating said. plunger; and.

means for controlling operation of said valve.

meansin timed relation with said plunger.

5; In a. fuel injector having a housing provided withfuel inlet. and outlet openings; a reciprocable plunger in said housing dividingthe interior thereodj with a pair of chambers each adapted for connection with one of said openings; a needle. valve in said outlet opening; a. spring operably disposed between said valve and plunger; a, Valve; actuator mounted concentrically with said plunger: and adapted to engage said needle valve; and means for reciprocating said plunger and. actuatorin timed sequence- 6. In a fuel injector having a housing provided with fuel inlet and outlet openings, a reciprocable plunger in said housing dividing the interior thereof with a pair of chambers each adapted for connection with one of said openings; a needle valve in said outlet opening; a spring operably disposed between said valve and plunger; a valve actuator mounted concentrically with said plunger and adapted to engage said needle valve; a passage through said actuator for interconnecting said chambers, said passage being closed when said actuator and needle valve are in engagement;

and means for reciprocating said actuator and plunger in timed sequence.

'7. In a fuel injector having a housing provided with fuel inlet and outlet openings, a reciprocable plunger in said housing dividing the interior thereof into a pair of chambers each adapted for connection with one of said openings; a needle valve in said outlet opening; a spring operably disposed between said valve and plunger; a valve actuator mounted concentrically with said plunger and adapted to engage said needle valve; a passage through said actuator for connecting said chambers and for connecting one of said chambers with said inlet openings; and valve means associated with said passage operable to interconnect said chambers only when said inlet opening is closed.

8. In a fuel injector havin a hollow body divided into a pair of variable capacity chambers by means of a reciprocable plunger, means for charging one of said chambers with fuel; means for ejecting fuel from the other chamber; a needle valve for controlling the fuel ejection including a needle; a flexible connection between the needle and plunger, said needle having a shoulder adapted to be acted upon by increase of pressure in said other chamber thereby to lift said needle and open said valve.

9. In a fuel injector having a hollow body, a pair of chambers in the body; a passage interconnecting said chambers; means for charging one of the chambers with fuel; means for ejecting fuel from the other chamber; a needle valve for controllin said ejection; a reciprocable plunger operably connected with the needle valve by flexible means such that the needle valve opens and closes while the plunger is travelling in one direction.

10. In a fuel injector having a hollow body provided with a fuel inlet openin and an eject-or opening, a plunger reciprocable in said body; a chamber at each end of the plunger; a valve actuator mounted concentrically with the plunger and reciprocable with respect thereto; means for reciprocating said plunger and actuator in timed relation.

11. In a fuel injector having a hollow body provided with a fuel inlet opening and an ejector opening, a plunger reciprocable in said body; a chamber at each end of the plunger; a valve actuator mounted concentrically with the plunger and reciprocable with respect thereto; means for reciprocating said plunger and actuator in timed relation; a port in said plunger adapted to register with the inlet opening; a passage in said actuator adapted to interconnect said chambers, said passage having a port adapted to register with said plunger port; and valve means for closing said passage when said ports are in register.

12. In a fuel injector, a pair of fuel chambers; a member having a discharge port associated with one of the chambers; a valve associated with the discharge port; a conduit connecting said chambers; a valve in the other chamber associated with the conduit; and means mechanically interconnecting said valves for simultaneous operation.

13. In a fuel injector, a member having a discharge port; a chamber adjacent said discharge port; a valve member in said chamber for opening and closing said discharge port; an actuator for closing said valve member; a port in said chamber for admitting fuel under pressure; a relief passage through said actuator; means for sealing said passage when said actuator is in valve closing position; mechanical means for operating said valve member; and hydraulic means for connecting and disconnecting said valve member with said mechanical means.

14. In a fuel injector, a member having a discharge port; a chamber adjacent said discharge port; a valve member in said chamber for opening and closing said discharge port; an actuator for closing said valve member; a port in said chamber for admittingfuel under pressure; a relief passage through said actuator; means for sealing said passage when said actuator is in valve closing position; a sprin in said chamber for biasing said valve member to closing position; and means mechanically operated carried by said valve member for causing the'member to lift under fuel pressure in response to movement of said actuator away from said closing position.

15. In a fuel injector, a member having a discharge port; a chamber adjacent the discharge port; a discharge port valve including a member movable in said chamber; a valve actuator having a passage therein for conducting fuel into said chamber; means carried by said valve member for sealing said passage when said actuator engages said valve member comprising a bore in said valve member; a rounded member slidable in said bore and adapted to engage said actuator to cover said passage; and a spring for urging said member outwardly of said bore.

JESSE R. HALE.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,852,191 Salisbury Apr. 5, 1932 1,883,980 Lang Oct. 25, 1932 1,943,718 Bell Jan. 16, 1934 2,223,756 Dillstrom Dec. 3, 1940 2,285,730 Lindeman June 6, 1942 2,350,434 Wallgreen et a1 June 6, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 146,072 Switzerland June 16, 1931 

